Belgium at a glance
Belgium is one of the EU jurisdictions founders most often use today, especially while the EU-wide 28th Regime (EU Inc) is still a proposal. Below are the verified essentials: company types, tax, capital, timing and whether you can set up remotely.
Company types in Belgium
- BV/SRL (besloten vennootschap / société à responsabilité limitée) The private limited company and the usual vehicle for SMEs and startups. Since the 2019 Companies and Associations Code it has no minimum capital, allows a single shareholder, and permits a flexible share structure. A notarial deed and a two-year financial plan are required.
- NV/SA (naamloze vennootschap / société anonyme) The public limited company for larger businesses or a listing. Requires EUR 61,500 of capital, with at least one quarter paid up at incorporation.
| Corporate tax | Standard corporate income tax is 25%. Qualifying SMEs pay a reduced 20% rate on the first EUR 100,000 of profit. A 15% domestic minimum top-up tax (Pillar Two) applies to large groups above EUR 750 million of revenue. |
|---|---|
| VAT rate | Standard VAT (BTW/TVA) is 21%, with reduced rates of 12% and 6%. Mandatory structured B2B e-invoicing (Peppol) takes effect in 2026. |
| Dividends & payroll taxes | Dividend withholding is 30%, cut to 15% for qualifying SME shares under VVPRbis after the holding period. Personal income tax reaches 50% quickly, and employer social security adds roughly 25% to 27% on gross pay. |
| Minimum share capital | The BV/SRL has had no legal minimum capital since the 2019 reform: it can start with EUR 1, but founders must file a financial plan showing the starting equity covers roughly the first two years. The NV/SA requires EUR 61,500. |
| Setup time | Typically 2 to 4 weeks. The company exists once the notarial deed is signed, and the notary's electronic filing assigns the enterprise number within 1 to 5 business days. Opening a corporate bank account is usually the slowest step. |
| Remote setup | Partial. Since 2021 the mandatory notarial deed can be signed online by video conference with a Belgian notary; otherwise a non-resident grants a notarised, apostilled power of attorney. Bank KYC for the capital account is the main friction. |
| Director / residency | No residency or nationality requirement: non-residents can be the sole director and shareholder of a BV/SRL or NV/SA. Beneficial owners must be filed in the UBO register within 30 days. |
| Banking options | Belgian banks (KBC, BNP Paribas Fortis, ING Belgium, Belfius) open accounts and issue the capital-deposit certificate, but KYC can be slow for foreign founders. Digital options (Wise, Revolut Business) are used for faster onboarding. |
| Our formation service | from around €100 to €200 (estimated). You get a fixed quote in your free plan before you commit. |
Belgium sits at the heart of the EU, with Brussels hosting the European Commission and Parliament. The 2019 Companies and Associations Code abolished the BV/SRL minimum capital. A notarial deed is mandatory, and a financial plan covering about the first two years is legally required.
How to register a company in Belgium
Step by step, this is how a Belgium formation actually runs:
- Prepare the financial plan. Belgian law requires a two-year financial plan justifying the starting means of the BV/SRL; the notary keeps it on file.
- Notarise the deed. Since 2021 the deed can be signed by video conference with a Belgian notary, or via a notarised, apostilled power of attorney.
- Deposit the starting capital. There is no fixed minimum, but the plan must show sufficient means; the bank issues the deposit certificate.
- Register with the CBE and VAT. The notary files with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises; VAT activation follows for trading companies.
- UBO registration. Beneficial owners are declared in the UBO register shortly after incorporation.
We handle each step with licensed local counsel, so the paperwork, registered address and filings are done correctly the first time.
What company formation in Belgium costs
The notarial deed is the main setup cost, commonly EUR 1,000 to 1,600 including publication, plus a small CBE fee. No minimum capital applies, but the financial plan must be credible. Accounting for a small BV typically runs EUR 150 to 350 a month, reflecting Belgium's filing depth.
Form your Belgian company in days
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service starts from around €100 to €200 (estimated); we confirm the right structure for Belgium, give you a fixed quote, and form the company with licensed counsel.
Get your free planWho can form a company in Belgium
Founders from outside the EU can own and run a Belgian company, with the cross-border requirements handled for you. We flag any residency or local-agent rule for Belgium up front, so there are no surprises.
Belgium fits businesses working around the EU institutions, Benelux traders and founders who value the no-minimum-capital BV with strong legal certainty. The notary-and-plan formality makes it middleweight: cheaper than Germany, heavier than the Baltics.
After registration: what Belgium expects each year
Annual accounts are filed with the National Bank's Central Balance Sheet Office within seven months of year end. The corporate tax return deadline follows the closing date, VAT returns are monthly or quarterly, and the UBO register must be kept current. Small companies avoid audit below thresholds.
Belgium and the 28th Regime (EU Inc)
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would let you register one company valid across all 27 EU member states. It is not law yet (expected around 2027-2028), so a Belgian company is one of the ready options you can use today. Forming an EU company now also positions you to adopt EU Inc later, as we cover in how to prepare an EU Inc company. To weigh Belgium against other countries, see company formation in Europe.